Input device

ABSTRACT

Implementations of the present invention relate to an input device for a home appliance for operation with a finger, includes a) sensitive keys arranged below a surface in a two-dimensional array, wherein a key voltage based on the nearness of the finger is generatable by each sensitive key dependant on the distance from the key and the size of the finger, c) wherein in a detection unit all key voltages are comparable, d) wherein in the detection unit the position of the finger is detectable, e) wherein an acceleration of the finger movement is detected by comparing detected positions of the finger. Furthermore, implementations the present invention include a method for data input for a home appliance for operation with a finger, especially for an input device according to the invention.

The invention relates to an input device for a home appliance foroperation with a finger.

The invention relates to an input device for a home appliance foroperation with a finger.

For home appliances, keys or switches are known for operating theappliance with a finger. However, single keys or switches are not ableto detect a two dimensional position of a finger or a movement of afinger.

Therefore, it is an object of the invention, to propose a new inputdevice, which overcomes the named disadvantages.

This object is solved by an input device according to claim 1 and amethod for data input according to claim 8. Advantageous embodiments aredescribed particularly in the dependent claims.

According to claim 1, the invention relates to an input device for ahome appliance for operation with a finger, comprising a) sensitive keysarranged below a surface in a two-dimensional array, b) wherein a keyvoltage based on the nearness of the finger is generatable by eachsensitive key dependant on the distance from the key and the size of thefinger, c) wherein in a detection unit all key voltages are comparable,d) wherein in the detection unit the position of the finger isdetectable and e) wherein an acceleration of the finger movement isdetectable by comparing, especially succeeding or successive orsubsequent, positions of the finger. The input device according to theinvention allows the detection of a two dimensional position of a fingeron a surface, as well as the detection of the movement of the finger.The input device can be operated by small fingers as well as by largefingers with the same result. The detection is possible with an at leastrelatively good resolution.

Preferably, the detection of the position is repeatable after apredefined time span, especially 100 ms, and/or a movement of the fingeris detectable, preferably based on a fixed and/or an arbitrary startingpoint.

In an advantageous embodiment, the keys are at least substantiallycircular. As an alternative, keys which are at least substantiallyrectangular or with another form are possible.

Preferably, the position of the finger is detectable by the comparingthe generated key voltages and determining the largest key voltage. Thiseases it to refer to relative voltages or values which are independentfrom the size of a finger.

In an advantageous embodiment, an acceleration of the finger movement isdetectable, by comparing three or at least three, especially succeeding,positions of the finger. By this, additional information can besubmitted by a movement of the finger.

Preferably, the input device is integrated into a cooking device,particularly a, preferably transparent, glass of a cooking hob,especially a glass ceramic stove top, and/or an induction hob and/or acooking oven and/or a steamer and/or a micro wave oven and/or a microwave oven combi and/or a freestanding cooking device and/or a combi ovencook top. This makes it possible to implement a lot of functionalityinto the cooking device where, on the other side, no or at least onlylittle additional space is required as the existing glass surface can beused. In an advantageous embodiment, the position of the finger isdisplayed on a display and/or a screen, preferably by a cursor. Thisgives the operator a good feedback of his actions.

According to claim 8, the invention relates to a method for data inputfor a home appliance for operation with a finger, especially for aninput device according to one of the preceding claims, a) with sensitivekeys arranged below a surface in a two-dimensional array, b) wherein akey voltage is generated based on the nearness of the finger by eachsensitive key dependant on the distance from the key and the size of thefinger, c) where all generated key voltages are compared, d) wherein theposition of the finger is detected, e) wherein an acceleration of thefinger movement is detected by comparing positions of the finger, f)wherein preferably the detection is repeated after a predefined timespan and/or g) wherein preferably a movement of the finger is detected.

Preferably, the position of the finger is detected by determining thelargest key voltage.

In an advantageous embodiment, an acceleration of the finger movement isdetected by comparing three or at least three, especially succeeding,detected positions of the finger.

The invention will be now described in further details with referencesto the figures, in which

FIG. 1 shows an input device according to the invention,

FIG. 2 shows, as a detail, four sensitive keys with equivoltage lines,

FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of an input device according to theinvention, and in which

FIG. 4 shows an input device according to the invention integrated intoan induction cooking hob.

FIG. 1 shows an input device 1 according to the invention, with atwo-dimensional array 2 of sensitive keys 11 to 22 and a display 3arranged beside the two-dimensional key array or matrix 2.

FIG. 1 shows a matrix 2 of three rows and four columns (3×4) of keys 11to 22, which are arranged in a rectangular form.

When the finger approaches to a sensitive key, a voltage is generateddepending on the distance from the key. The generated voltages are thencompared in a detection unit shown in FIG. 3, where the highest voltagevalue defines the position of the finger 4 in the two dimensional array2.

The input device 1 works similar like a mouse pad and moves an index onthe display or screen 3 to select a different function.

The sensitive keys 11 to 22 are preferably implemented as capacitivekeys. The capacitive areas of the keys 11 to 22 are arranged side byside in a non-overlapping manner. This makes it possible to locate theposition relative to the finger 4 with at least substantially goodaccuracy.

The keys 11 to 22 are at least substantially circular. As analternative, the keys can also have another form.

For the input device 1, a fix center key can be defined, which ispreferably in or near the center of the two-dimensional array 2, forexample key 15. Relative to this key 15, a left, top, right and a bottomregion are defined. In this example, key 14 is in the left region, key12 is in the top region, key 16 is in the right region and key 18 is inthe bottom region. If the finger touches one of these keys, the cursor 9on the display 3 will move into the corresponding direction.

The voltages are repeatedly generated and measured in predefined timespans, so that, by comparison of two succeeding detected values, thedetection of the movement of the finger is also possible. A cursor 9 onthe display 3 is moved in the detected direction. The detection of themovement can therefore also be executed based on an arbitrary startingpoint.

Also, the detection of an acceleration of the finger movement ispossible. To detect the acceleration, at least three voltage values arecompared. The values can be succeeding values with the same timedifference. As an alternative, also values which have different timedifferences and/or which are not succeeding values can be compared. Incase three voltage values are compared, the distance between the firstand the second measurement is compared with the distance between thesecond and the third measurement.

Different finger sizes can generate different voltages in the sensitivekeys. However, since the generated voltages are compared with eachother, only the relative values of the sensitive keys are relevant.

For the array, different sizes are possible. Examples are 2×3, 3×3, 3×4,4×4, or any other combination.

FIG. 2 shows schematically which voltages are generated by the touchwith the finger 4. The voltages generated by the sensitive keys 11 to 14depend on the distance from the sensitive keys 11 to 14. Points wherethe same voltage is generated are arranged along circles around thesensitive key. FIG. 2 shows such equivoltage lines HA to HE, 12A to 12E,13A to 13E as well as 14A to 14E, which are generated depending on thedistance of the finger 4 from the sensitive keys 11 to 14.

As an alternative, equivoltage lines can proceed along squares orrectangles or in other form around the sensitive keys, depending on theform of the keys.

FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of the input device 1, with the key array 2generating the voltage values of the keys, a detection unit 8 connectedwith the key array 2 by connection lines 5 detecting the closestsensitive key and the movement and/or the acceleration of the finger.The detected values are, on the one hand, passed via connection lines 6to the display 3 and, on the other hand, passed to a further unit forfurther processing via connection lines 7.

According to a first example with a finger size of 7 mm, a voltage U13is generated by key 13 with 350 mV, a voltage U14 is generated by key 14with 120 mV and a voltage U11 is generated by key 11 with 50 mV. It willbe detected, that the finger is on key 13 and close to key 14.

If the input device 1 is operated by a finger 4 with a diameter of 12mm, a voltage U13 will be generated by key 13 with 400 mV, a voltage U14will be generated by key 14 with 150 mV and a voltage U11 will begenerated by key 11 with 70 mV. All voltage values are higher comparedto the values generated by the finger with a size of 7 mm. But as theevaluation and detection is done by comparison, the result will beexactly the same. Also in this case, the finger on key 13 and close tokey 14 will be detected. The measurements are taken every 100 ms.

FIG. 4 shows an input device 1 according to the invention integratedinto an induction cooking hob 30. The induction cooking hob 30 comprisesa transparent glass surface with back coating or enameling. The inputdevice 1 is arranged below the surface of the glass of the inductioncooking hob 30. The sensitive keys in the key array 2 of the inputdevice 1 can be operated from above the surface of the induction cookinghob 30.

As an alternative, the input device can also be integrated into anyother cooking hob, especially with transparent glass or outside theglass of a cooking hob.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

-   -   1 input device    -   2 key array    -   3 display    -   4 finger    -   5-7 connection lines    -   8 detection unit    -   9 cursor    -   11-22 keys    -   HA-UE,    -   12A-12E,    -   13A-13E,    -   30 induction hob

1-10. (canceled)
 11. An input device for a home appliance for operationwith a finger, comprising: a) sensitive keys arranged below a surface ina two-dimensional array; b) wherein a key voltage based on the nearnessof the finger is generatable by each sensitive key dependant on thedistance from the key and the size of the finger; c) wherein in adetection unit all key voltages are comparable; d) wherein in thedetection unit the position of the finger is detectable; and e) whereinan acceleration of the finger movement is detectable by comparingpositions of the finger.
 12. The input device according to claim 11,wherein: a) the detection of the position is repeatable after apredefined time span, especially 100 ms; and/or b) a movement of thefinger (4) is detectable, preferably based on a fixed and/or anarbitrary starting point.
 13. The input device according to claim 11,wherein the sensitive keys are at least substantially circular.
 14. Theinput device according to claim 11, wherein the position of the fingeris detectable by comparing the generated key voltages and determiningthe largest key voltage.
 15. The input device according to claim 11,wherein an acceleration of the finger movement is detectable bycomparing three or at least three, especially succeeding or successiveor subsequent, positions of the finger.
 16. The input device accordingto claim 11, wherein the input device is integrated into a cookingdevice, particularly a, preferably transparent, glass of: a cooking hob,especially a glass ceramic stove top; and/or an induction hob; and/or acooking oven; and/or a steamer; and/or a micro wave oven; and/or a microwave oven combi; and/or a freestanding cooking device; and/or a combioven cook top.
 17. The input device according to claim 11, wherein theposition of the finger is displayed on a display, preferably by acursor.
 18. A method for data input for a home appliance for operationwith a finger, especially for an input device with sensitive keysarranged below a surface in a two-dimensional array, wherein: a keyvoltage is generated based on the nearness of the finger by eachsensitive key dependant on the distance from the key and the size of thefinger; all generated key voltages are compared; the position of thefinger is detected; an acceleration of the finger movement is detectedby comparing detected positions of the finger; preferably the detectionis repeated after a predefined time span; and/or preferably a movementof the finger is detected.
 19. The method according to claim 18, whereinthe position of the finger is detected by determining the largest keyvoltage.
 20. The method according to claim 18, wherein an accelerationof the finger movement is detected by comparing three or at least three,especially succeeding, detected positions of the finger.